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SCDVintage Car Racing
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Lime Rock Historic Festival 2012 – Report and Photos

1976 March 761- James King. MICHAEL DIPLECO
1976 March 761- James King.

The Lime Rock Historic Festival 2012 was held August 31st to September 3rd at the 7-turn, 1.5 mile Lime Rock Park road course in Connecticut.

More than 300 vintage race cars grouped in 10 racing classes participated in the 30th running of the Lime Rock Historics. Race groups included True Vintage; Monoposto Medley; 1966-1983 F1 Historic Grand Prix; Sports Racers of the ’50s; among others.

British Formula One racing legend Sir Stirling Moss was the guest of honor for the 2012 Lime Rock Historic Festival. Although Moss did not compete at this year’s event, several of his former winning cars were at the festival including the 1954 Osca MT4, winner at the 1954 Sebring 12 Hours and the 1952 Jaguar C-Type, winner at the 1953 12 Hours of Reims. Moss opened each race day driving the OSCA around the track with his wife Susie, trailed by other cars Moss made famous.

Lime Rock Park’s annual Labor Day weekend vintage racing event featured — for the first time — a special Formula 1 race group. Historic Grand Prix, a vintage racing organization that showcases the 1966 to 1983 3-litre era of F1, raced at the 2012 Lime Rock Historics. Highlights included Duncan Dayton piloting his Mario Andretti World Championship-winning 1978 Lotus 79, the 1971 Ferrari 312 B2 of John Goodman, 1974 Brabham BT 4 of Phil Reilly and Charles Warner’s 1979 Shadow DN9B, among others.

In addition to the Formula One racers, other notable entrants at the 2012 Lime Rock Historic Festival included Sandra McNeil’s 1964 Porsche 904; 1959 Stanguellini Formula Junior of Bill Gelles; Ben Bragg’s 1935 ‘Old Grey Mare’ Special; 1932 Alta Le Mans of Nick Grewal; 1954 Maserati 250F of Peter Giddings; Peter Greenfield’s 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C-35; 1957 Monsterati of David Swig; 1955 Jaguar D-Type driven by Daniel Ghose; Doug Elcomb’s very unique Canadian Dreossi Special; 1959 Maserati Type 61 Birdcage of Tony Wang; 1969 Lola T70 Mk3B and 1958 Lister Jaguar of Tom Malloy; 1960 Porsche RS 60 driven by Roger Mandeville; Simon Kirby in the 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL; and Mark Auriana’s 1957 Alfa Romeo SVZ.

Similar to the 2011 Lime Rock Historics and 2010 Lime Rock Historics, photographer Michael DiPleco also documented the vintage racing action from the 2012 Lime Rock Historic Festival, offering the following pictures that not only show the field of historic race cars, but also the park-like setting of the Lime Rock road course.

Lime Rock Historic Festival 2012 – Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

[envira-gallery id=”163024″]

Lime Rock Historic Festival 2012 – Saturday Race Results

Group 1, Roads and Tracks: A grid of 60s sports racers matched with younger – but less agile – Porsches and Datsuns
1. Kim Baker, Chester, Mass., 1965 Lola T-70, :55.842 fastest lap
2. Doc Bundy, Flowery Branch, Ga., 1964 Lotus 23B, :57.671
3. Roy Walzer, Litchfield, Conn., 1963 Lotus 23, :59.275

Group 2, Monoposto Medley: Formula Fords, Juniors and Vees
1. Glen Taylor, Shelton, Conn., 1979 PRS FF, :57.797 fastest lap
2. David Porter, Darien, Conn., 1971 Lotus 69 FF, :58.050
3. Jim MacNicholl, Bethel, Conn., 1981 Van Diemen FF, :59.007

Group 3, True Vintage: Pre-WWII Gems, with a few post-War Stars
1. Peter Greenfield, Freeport, N.Y., 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C35, 1:07.375 fastest lap
2. Peter Giddings, U.K., 1931 Alfa Romeo Tipo B, 1:09.201
3. Paul Fitzgerald, Hampton Falls, N.H., 1953 MG TD, 1:11.058

Group 4A and 4B, Speed and Beauty: ‘Weapons-grade’ formula cars
4A
1. Howard Katz, New York, N.Y., 1973 March-BMW F2, :51.069 fastest lap
2. David Porter, Darien, Conn., 1979 March 79B FA, :51.471
3. Stevie Hynes, Madison, N.J., 1978 March 78B FA, :51.900

4B
1. Bud Moeller, McLean, Va., 1979 Ensign F1, :51.493 fastest lap
2. Eric Lang, Center Morishes, N.Y., 1979 Tyrrell F1, :50.853
3. Steve Cook, Yountville, Calif., 1974 March 741, :52.085

Group 5, Wild, Wild Horses: Small and lithe versus big and sometimes brutish
1. Simon Kirkby, Lime Rock Park, 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL, :58.806 fastest lap
2. Bob Hebert, Monterey, Mass., 1965 Jaguar E-Type, :59.751
3. Jim Newton, West Simsbury, Mass., 1967 Porsche 911 RS, :59.582

Group 6, Sports Racers: Iconic marques, many of which Sir Stirling raced to victory
1. Jack Boxstrom, Picton, Ont., Can., 1961 Chaparrel MK1, 1:02.402 fastest lap
2. Sandra McNeil, Bayport, N.Y., 1958 Cooper Monaco, 1:03.303
3. Vince Irwin, Rye, N.Y., 1957 Lotus 11, 1:02.794

Group 7, Sports Racing ‘Salad’: Different approaches, same speedy result
1. Ben Sinnott, Fairfield, Cobb., 1991 Lola S2000, :53.540 fastest lap
2. Roy Walzer, Litchfield, Conn., 1970 Chevron B16, :53.901
3. David Porter, Darien, Conn., 1985 Swift S2000, :53.410

Group 8, Small-Bore Production Cars: Street cars prepped to race, 60s and 70s
1. Herb Wetanson, New York, N.Y., 1961 Lotus Super 7, 1:03.319 fastest lap
2. David Reid, Marblehead, Mass., 1965 Mini Cooper S, 1:03.739
3. Laurent Fumex, Madison, Conn., 1972 MGB, 1:03.045

Group 9, Alfas Galore: Italians vs. the Brits and Germans
1. Dave Gussack, Armonk, N.Y., 1963 Triumph Spitfire, 1:03.088 fastest lap
2. Kent Bain, Fairfield, Conn., 1965 Triumph Spitfire, 1:03.456
3. Matt Hagopian, Wilbraham, Mass., 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite, 1:04.940

Group 10, Eclectic Sports and GT Cars for the Road
1. Werner Scheeren, Poestenkill, N.Y., 1958 MGA, 1:07.792 fastest lap
2. Tim Suddard, Ormand Beach, Fla., 1957 Triumph TR3, 1:07.914
3. Adam Nolde, New Haven, Conn., 1956 Austin-Healey, 1:08.756

Lime Rock Historic Festival 2012 – Monday Race Results

Group 1, Roads and Tracks: A grid of 60s sports racers matched with younger – but less agile – Porsches and Datsuns
1. Kim Baker, Chester, Mass., 1965 Lola T-70, :56.892 fastest lap
2. Doc Bundy, Flowery Branch, Ga., 1964 Lotus 23B, :57.276
3. Graham Adelman, Free Union, Va., 1962 Lotus 23, :59.189

Group 2, Monoposto Medley: Formula Fords, Juniors and Vees
1. Glen Taylor, Shelton, Conn., 1979 PRS FF, :57.693 fastest lap
2. David Porter, Darien, Conn., 1971 Lotus 69 FF, :58.396
3. Jim MacNicholl, Bethel, Conn., 1981 Van Diemen FF, :58.931

Group 3, True Vintage: Pre-WWII Gems, with a few post-War Stars
1. Peter Greenfield, Freeport, N.Y., 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C35, 1:07.349 fastest lap
2. Peter Giddings, U.K., 1931 Alfa Romeo Tipo B, 1:09.747
3. Paul Fitzgerald, Hampton Falls, N.H., 1953 MG TD, 1:13.168

Group 4A and 4B, Speed and Beauty: ‘Weapons-grade’ formula cars
4A
1. Howard Katz, New York, N.Y., 1973 March-BMW F2, :50.816 fastest lap
2. Art Hebert, Larkspur, Calif., 1977 Chevron B-39 FA, :51.143
3. David Porter, Darien, Conn., 1979 March 79B FA, :51.068

4B
1. James King, Telluride, Colo., 1976 March 761 F1, :51.326 fastest lap
2. Steve Cook, Yountville, Calif., 1974 March 741, :51.336
3. Eric Lang, Center Morishes, N.Y., 1979 Tyrrell F1, :51.194

Group 5, Wild, Wild Horses: Small and lithe versus big and sometimes brutish
1. Simon Kirkby, Lime Rock Park, 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL, :58.908 fastest lap
2. Bob Hebert, Monterey, Mass., 1965 Jaguar E-Type, :59.633
3. Jim Newton, West Simsbury, Mass., 1967 Porsche 911 RS, :59.331

Group 6, Sports Racers: Iconic marques, many of which Sir Stirling raced to victory
1. Jack Boxstrom, Picton, Ont., Can., 1961 Chaparrel MK1, 1:01.402 fastest lap
2. Vince Irwin, Rye, N.Y., 1957 Lotus 11, 1:02.796
3. Tom Grudovich, Palm Beach, Fla., 1969 Lola MK1, 1:02.883

Group 7, Sports Racing ‘Salad’: Different approaches, same speedy result
1. Ben Sinnott, Fairfield, Conn., 1991 Lola S2000, :52.556 fastest lap
2. Roy Walzer, Litchfield, Conn., 1970 Chevron B16, :53.442
3. Peter Krause, Durham, N.C., 1984 Tiga S2000, :53.639

Group 8, Small-Bore Production Cars: Street cars prepped to race, 60s and 70s
1. Laurent Fumex, Madison, Conn., 1972 MGB, 1:01.937 fastest lap
2. Lee Talbot, McLean, Va., 1967 Ginetta G4, 1:01.830
3. David Reid, Marblehead, Mass., 1965 Mini Cooper S, 1:03.654

Group 9, Alfas Galore: Italians vs. the Brits and Germans
1. Bill Warner, Jacksonville, Fla., 1971 Triumph TR6, 1:02.298 fastest lap
2. Dave Gussack, Armonk, N.Y., 1963 Triumph Spitfire, 1:02.586
3. Matt Hagopian, Wilbraham, Mass., 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite, 1:04.366

Group 10, Eclectic Sports and GT Cars for the Road
1. Tim Suddard, Ormand Beach, Fla., 1957 Triumph TR3, 1:07.345 fastest lap
2. Adam Nolde, New Haven, Conn., 1956 Austin-Healey, 1:07.466
3. Werner Scheeren, Poestenkill, N.Y., 1958 MGA, 1:07.589

[Source: Lime Rock Park; photos: Michael DiPleco]

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8 Comments

  2. Michael has done it again…Fantastic photography, at what could well be, one of the most beautiful race tracks in the world. A good selection of photos,especially the pre 60s sports racers, and good to see the North American local built cars getting some exposure also, well done.

  3. Michael,
    Great shots of a fabulous weekend!
    It was my first time there, and it was more than I dreamed it could be.
    The event was fabulous. It turned into a real meet & greet for me.
    I met Bill Warner, Sir Moss and Lady Susie, Doc Bundy, Skip Barbour, and wonderful artists Chris Orbourne, Anna Ruzsan, Jimmy Agatinho, Sergei Fedorjaczenko, the Vintage Motorsport crew, the Classic Motorsports crew, international art/book-seller Ben Horton, car builder/restorer Lee Duran, and the great racer/writer/journalist Burt Levy.
    I got one sketch done, that of Peter Greenfield’s 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C 35. My friend Phil Lamont was also ther racing his beautiful Lotus 18 FJr.
    There were many great race cars there, all being raced in a beautiful setting.
    I think I’ll be returning!
    Cheers!
    Paul

  4. SCD, thank you once again for taking me to Lime Rock for the Festival. I couldn’t attend this year and lamented that I missed my opportunity to meet Sir Stirling Moss. Beautiful cars, dedicated owners, and I’m sure, appreciative spectators. A special thanks to Michael DiPleco for his photos of the event.

  5. Lime Rock 2012 Historic Festival pictures. You have misinformation posted.Top row, middle picture is a photo of a 1973 Lotus Europa, driven by Thomas Walko. The car # is 30, not the marque. Please correct this.